This is strange, but I’ve decided that the Nordstrom shoe department is often a negative indicator for me. I may love it in the store and then am not so happy with the shoe at home. Or vice versa, a shoe I loved on the shelf doesn’t seem right when I try it on in store but I do love it if I get it home.

I think mood does play a large role for me or if I am just set on finding a particular item. I’m improving in being more discerning but still have spurts with lots of returns.

I’m a habitual returner. Often times I do return an item because I regret spending the money, but more often I’ve noticed that in the store, I don’t focus on “fit” as much as I should. Sometimes I buy on impulse if I really like the item on the hanger, and then when I get home I realize that while it may be pretty, it’s not pretty on me. Also, I often realize that I will never wear the item, that it’s just not “me.” I have way too many mediocre items in my closet that I never wear, so now with YLF’s help, I’m really making an effort to only buy fab pieces.

I return a ton of shoes, and that’s because I don’t settle for less than super comfortable. If a shoe causes pain, I’m going to return it because I know I’ll never wear it. I don’t want to waste my money like that.

I rarely return items that I purchase in a retail store. I feel pretty confident about the things I buy if I am able to try them on first. If it’s something that is a bit outside of what I would normally wear, or a trend piece and I’m looking for a specific fit or detail that maybe I haven’t gotten quite right, I will usually get opinions (either on the forum or ask my husband or friends). If the general consensus is negative, I will return it.

Great points, Marianna and Patience. I’m glad that you feel that you’re making better shopping decisions. Perpetually returning items eats up our time.

I purposely left shoes out of the equation because that’s a different kettle of fish. Because of my fussy feet, I return A LOT of shoes. Also, when you purchase shoes online, you can’t help but do a lot of returning. However unlike Patience, I try to buy shoes at Nordstrom because of their return policy. I know that I can road test the shoes for a while and still return them if my feet aren’t happy. For my feet, the shopping strategy doesn’t get better than that!

I do almost all of my clothes shopping online (what I don’t make myself anyway!) so the only fitting room that I need to worry about is the one at home. If I am at the mall I am usually hauling around the 9yr old that wants my attention and feels free to give her opinion. If I were shopping at Justice fine, but not at Neiman’s. Shopping online I can evaluate it with other clothes in my closet check fit (and figure out how to fix it) and really decide if it is me, all in the comfort of my closet. The key is that I don’t take off any tags or throw out the boxes till I know it is a keeper!

I’d say I mostly return items if I get them home and the bf hates them (although if I really am in love with something, I will keep it and wear it when we are apart). I have also returned items that ended up being too over the top for my style (shoes with gigantic flowers on the toes, for example — pretty in a vacuum, kind of weird in my outfits).

I’m usually time starved when I’m out shopping, both kids and the double buggy are not fitting room friendly. I often reevaluate at my leisure once I get home. Having said that I make few returns, I suppose it is a definite perk of being a racy rectangle that I have fewer fit issues.

I tend to do a fair ammount of returning, and I’ve been thinking about it alot lately. I’ve come to the conclusion that it is because I don’t evaluate ALL of the factors while in the store… I may love the color, but then don’t take the time to really evaluate the fit. Or, I love the shape, but then get home and realize that it is not the best color for me. I think in a store, I get a bit of sensory overload too, and I just have to have time at home to really thnk clearly. Another factor is that sometimes I think I have several ways to wear something, but then get home and realize it’s not going to be as versatile as I thought.
One thing I’m trying to do more now though, is take my camera shopping with me. I can take a pic in the dressing room and then do the final evaluating at home when I have the time to really think about it. I can also compare items from different stores this way without having to remember what that green sweater from ATL looked like while I am in the dressing room at NYC.
Thanks for posting this topic in your blog today Angie! It’s a good thing to think about.

Heh – my skinny mirror is at home.

The vast majority of my returns are items I bought online. I’m usually pretty careful in the dressing room and take my time. Those items I buy in the store that I end up returning fall into these categories:

1) I realize – typically the very next day – that I was in a “mood” where nothing was working out, but I didn’t want to leave the mall without buying something. I know, that’s silly. But, it happens. I talked myself into a so-so item just so the whole trip wasn’t a wash.

2) I accidentally bought a duplicate item, not realizing I already have something similar in storage. This is happening much less (since YLF) as I have culled down my closet, take pics, and get mileage out of nearly everything.

3) I wind up buying something so-so, because I fear I’ll never find the perfect item. In other words, I settle. Then inevitably, I find a better item shortly after. I’m just so used to settling, because being petite, if I don’t snatch up an item in my size, it won’t be there the next day. Sometimes I haven’t taken the tags off so this works out okay.

4) I want to try something trendy, I get it home, and then never get the guts to wear it. This happens less with YLF, because I have learned to at least try it once, and many times wind up adopting the trend in question. But there have been a few times that I will wear certain trendy items one or two times and never again because I just can’t get into the trend.

Once I take off the tags and wear something out of the house, I do not feel comfortable returning – and I don’t care what Nordie’s policy is on that. It just doesn’t seem right to me. I fear this type of customer service just drives up prices.

Since my DD’s are about the same size, I often first try to see if one of them (or their girlfriends) would like the item. That works out about pretty often, minimizing returns.

Online returns are a different story! I wish there was a way to minimize those.

Yes, I’ve analyzed this a lot… I hate making returns.

I can now usually make up my mind in the store dressingroom and not return, but do return if (1) I find I’d forgotten that I already have a very similar item. (2) The fit isn’t as good as I’d thought, maybe due to those skinny mirrors. (3) It doesn’t go with other things I own as I’d hoped, (4) I didn’t have time to try on in the store but really wanted the item if it fit. I still make mistakes and end up returning if I can. I’m trying to buy used clothing as much as possible just on principle, and often sales are final at consignment stores.

I’m horribly indecisive, so I make more returns than I would like. When I’m shopping, I’m usually rushed, so I have to make decisions quickly. This often means that I forget about something – good color, but a bad fit. Good color, good fit, but not comfortable. Also, I sometimes get desperate because I have so little time to shop that I feel I must get something every time I am shopping.

With ylf, I am getting better because I’m a lot more attentive to detail in the store. I’ve also found that I am much, much, much better off going into one small store that I like than a large department store. I get sensory overload easily and end up making bad decisions when there are too many choices. I’d rather have fewer options, actually.

I almost always return things because they don’t fit properly. I just want it to fit properly in store so buy it anyway. Inevitably, when I get home and try it on with other items, I realize no, it just doesn’t work for my frame and know that if I don’t return it I will never wear it so I might as well get my money back. It’s sad.

I’ve pretty much quit shopping at the Anthropologie in downtown Seattle due to their skinny mirrors. All of the mirrors in the dressing rooms are angled to give fake long legs. I’ve ended up returning so many items I got there after I tried them on at home in a realistic mirror.

The store in University Village, however, doesn’t do this trick and as a result gets a lot more business from me.

I do a lot of returns, for many of the same reasons Shiny mentioned. My other reason is that I don’t often have a good mental picture of what my closet really holds, and so I buy new items that end up not working with what I already have. This primarily happens with items of a bright or unusual color, but I can’t stop trying new colors, because when I find a new one that works, there is nothing better!

Tops, too, are difficult for me. I should ponder on why that is…

I rarely return things- but I am super picky with what I buy. Like so picky I annoy the people I’m shopping with. But I guess it pays off

I return more often than I’d like, for sure. My reasons are:
1. Weight/size – I’ve been losing weight for two years now and am so close to being done. I don’t shop for several weeks and then give in and buy several things. I go home and try it on again, and feel like it’s not worth buying stuff since I’m still in transition (it’s a big motivator to stay on track, that’s for sure).
2. Wants > Needs – I much prefer buying “fun” items that may or may not fit in with my current wardrobe. But I often find myself saying “I really need X, Y, or Z”. So sometimes I return a want so I can get a need.
3. Angel vs. Demon struggle – In a store, the want to buy something is really strong. When I get home I realize that another item I reallyreally want is more important than getting a few just really wants. I think the want to buy is transfered from my former want to eat bad habit. You can’t take something out of your life without filling it up with something else. So my overeating and turned into over shopping.
I usually think better at home, too, and when in doubt I take a photo and make a decision from there.

I don’t end up returning many items since my purchases are typically of things that fill a specific hole, or things that I adore so much that I’d kick myself for passing them up. But I’ve definitely had those moments in front of the BEDROOM mirror that make me think, “Whoa, how did this make the cut?” I think the only recurring theme would be items that are too big. I gravitate toward oversized items because they appeal to my eye, but they seldom flatter my bod!

I have the opposite reaction, I am really hard on the way things look in dressing rooms, and get home and will like something much better than at the store. I need to be able to stand far back to get a good view, check out an item in several mirrors at home, and be able to pair it with the right item from my closet. I am also much more relaxed at home, making everything look better.

The only time I return is when I just know I won’t wear something, or when I have bought something online.

I am not a habitual returner. I take my time in the fitting room so I have a good idea if an item will work or not. However, lately I’ve returned some things that I ordered online (fit issues). And I have to make another visit to the mall to return some things which I really don’t care to keep because they are not interesting enough. In recession, I’ve noticed that I really think hard before I commit myself to an item of clothing. If I don’t see at least 4 -5 outfit potentials using the item, I move on.

This is something I do all the time! Every other item I buy I like less when I see it at home, usually its because it doesn’t match things as well as I thought. I often keep the item anyway thinking I am being too fussy and end up only wearing it a few times.

I don’t enjoy shopping and even when I buy something in the store and I don’t love it once I get home, I often keep it sitting in my closet for 6 months bc inertia sets in or bc I cannot bear to schlepp downtown, find parking, fight crowds, etc. just to return an item. Not ideal.

My favourite way to do things is shop as much as possible online. Now, the issue with this is that I live in Canada and we have almost no stores that have online shopping. And, when I have US stores ship to me here, I have to pay substantial shipping costs and huge “duty” (taxes) which i don’t get back even if I return the clothes.

So, what I do is order clothes from US sites whenever I’m going to be travelling to America for either work or pleasure. The boxes are waiting for me at the hotel when I arrive (I make sure to give a nice tip to the bellman for keeping them safe for me!) and in the comfort of my own room, in my own time, I try them on and see what I think. This methodology results in a large amount of returns – at least 50%, usually – but I consider that a great thing. Most stores make it super-easy to return and I always find that boxing up unwanted clothes and taking the box to the nearest post office is always pretty simple. I love being able to try the clothes on several times over the course of a few days – different time of day and different moods often lead to pretty good decisions.

There are a few drawbacks of this methodology : ) Since my closet is back in Toronto, I usually wish that I had more of my own things to try on with these items (”would those red shoes look good with this dress?”) instead of just my things that happen to be in my suitcase. And sometimes, the hotel doesn’t have very good mirrors or lighting so I find it difficult to evaluate as well as I could at home. But, overall, it’s the best method I’ve found, yet, and the high rate of return allows me to sample lots of clothes and pick only what works best for me, with a minimum of hassle.

I do a lot of returns- more than I should! A lot of it is due to shopping online. You take chances every single time! But the convenience of online shopping lures me in and I love coming home to a package waiting for me on the doorstop. I do make use of free shipping coupons and I do try to shop at stores that let you return online items in store.

However I do buy things occasionally at the store which I return due to things not fitting into my wardrobe at home. Or maybe I already have too many navy sweaters- then I feel guilty and return it. If I don’t want to rush home and wear it the next day or two, then I probably don’t love it enough and then I return it. I do buy on impulse at the mall and end up returning things that way too.

I return a lot of stuff that I purchase online. I don’t do much online purchasing anymore though. I really liked online stuff when I lived in a rural area and didn’t have many shopping options near me, but now I prefer to purchase in stores. I do still buy things online occasionally, and often return at least one or two items from every shipment, sometimes more, due to bad sizing, bad fit, comfort, fabric thickness, itchy fabrics, etc.

I almost never return if I buy in the store. I’m fussy in the dressing room, and if something isn’t my usual style, I’ll often think about it and go back and try it on again, maybe even 2 separate times, before purchasing. Especially if it’s expensive. I can’t remember the last time I returned an in-store clothing purchase. Probably more than 5 years ago.

I actually do quite a lot of web shopping. I know which brands fit me so I tend to narrow my search, especially on ebay, if there is something that I want. Also, even though I keep up a never-ending but always changing wishlist of things that I want, I’m very wary to buy 99% because of 1) budget constraints and 2) Does it fill out my wardrobe? Also, I’m a student who lives in a dorm with limited closet space. So everything has to fit into my drawer and closet somehow.

But do I still shop in stores? Yes, all the time, but I have to be absolutely in love with the item, usually I’ve seen a variation of the item online or if they do have the item online, I use Polyvore and see how many outfits I can make with that item, with clothes on the website that reflect my actual wardrobe.THEN, I’ll buy it if its still around. By that point its fate. By that point, the likelihood of returns is pretty low.

I am all too familiar with the phenomenon you describe. But I’ve been less afflicted by it since I switched to doing most of my shopping online. I like being able to have my whole wardrobe right there when I try something on. Also, I would never spend an hour in the store trying to decide if a particular pair of shoes make me look like I have cankles, but who’s going to know if I do just that at home? I do send things back on occasion but that’s because it’s the equivalent of putting it back on the hanger in the store (albeit, it can get expensive without free shipping).

I am very rarely organized enough to return anything.

However, I have taken a few things back to Nordstrom that I ordered online that just didn’t fit correctly. I also took a pair of shoes back to Nordstrom, because although they were simply ballet flats, they gave me bruises on the tops of my feet. Ouch!

I’m also thinking about taking a recent pair of boots back. They are very comfortable and they look fab, but sadly, they are falling apart after less than 10 wears. Should I take them back or suck it up, because they were the cheaper option to begin with?

love,
m!

I feel that Nordstrom’s encourages customers to buy and return if we change our mnd or have a problem with the purchase. The sales clerks do tell customers to do this, so I do take advantage of it and I love being able to bring things home and think more indepth about a purchase. This works for me. Now I am branching out to shopping at AT, Macy’s, and Club Monaco, so I better learn what their return policy is before I get burned.

I never feel 100% certain of almost anything I buy until I have it at home, with the rest of my wardrobe. I need to see it with everything else I own, on my body, in my “honest” mirrors. There is just no comparison. I have become a lot better at GUESSING which things will work out, but like I said, you just can’t be sure until you have put it through vigorous testing.

I am not in a position where I can spend money on anything that isn’t absolutely perfect, so I often end up taking things home, testing them out, and returning them. Even if an item is perfect, but is very restricted in how it can be worn, I won’t bother with it. I will only buy something if I can make at least 3 very different outfits with it. There is no way to know that until I get home.

I work part time at a local boutique. Since I am familiar with the different brands, and am able to see how they work on different bodies, I often am pretty confident of clothing I take home to purchase. Even with all this knowledge, I still have second thoughts about a few things when I get them home. Sometimes you need to check a heel length with a skirt or a color looks different in natural lighting/ soft lighting at home. As someone who works in the retail business, I would rather a customer return anything that they were not 100% completely satisfied with. I do feel that returns should be done in a timely manner, and the merchandise should be in the same condition as when purchased. I feel confident that our repeat business is based on truly wanting every woman who purchases something to be in love with what they purchase!

Wow, the returns culture in North America is light years away from here in London!

Here, the customer service is so appalling that I would rather slam my fingernails in a door than face the queues at the returns counter of most department stores. A girl can lose the will to live in those places – always tucked away in a dingy, smelly corner next to the mops for some reason. It’s often even worse returning internet purchases – the queues at the post office can be truly horrific, and they are the most god-awful depressing places as well.

Any purchase under about 30 pounds (which is probably $50 or so US) it’s not even worth it.

I think that’s why we buy so much cheap crap at topshop and primark, so that you don’t have to worry if you don’t end up wearing it because it didn’t cost very much to start with. It’s an appalling – and unsustainable – attitude, I know. But trying to return something is just hell. Sorry for the whinge

Angie, you often mention that your brand knowledge makes you one step ahead in knowing what brands work best for certain body types. Would you consider a list (for us clueless ones) of brands that often yield success for certain body types? I am not a big enough shopper to know what to try (being petite but not twiggy is my particular challenge). Walking into a Nordstrom is just overwhelming! A cheat sheet would be most welcome!

Where do you shop in the UK that has such bad service? I’m American, living in the UK, and I’ve never had a problem taking things back. Even when I bought a cheap bag at Primark and my husband made gagging sounds when he saw it, I took it back no problem. I’ve had to take clothing items back to Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, and Tesco, and it hasn’t been any more troublesome than taking stuff back at Wal-mart.

I’m a thrift addict, and most of the thrift stores here are run for charity. If I buy an item that I later decide I don’t like that much, I just consider it to have been a small donation and I give the item back to the thrift store in my next donation.

Almost everything I take back has been either rare items that my husband disliked enough to comment, or something unique that I was not sure about but knew it would be gone if I didn’t buy it. Looking at it in a more relaxed way I then decided it didn’t really suit me after all.

Insightful.